Indonesia recently announced its Government will continue boosting growth of the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry in view of the potential development to be integrated with several domestic airports.

Indonesia's Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto (Source: http://en.industry.co.id)

Accordingly, Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport in Bintan of Riau Islands, and Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka of West Java, among others, will be integrated with the MRO industry.

Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto said that Bintan is currently developing a 4,000-ha airport and aerospace industry park which will be the most complete in Indonesia, with several supporting facilities, such as airports, aircraft repair facilities, flight training, as well as business and residential areas.

The Industry Ministry and the Aircraft Maintenance Service Association have agreed to forge synergy to develop educational units and provide teaching experts in the field of aircraft maintenance, Hartarto stated.

Indonesia is expected to absorb as many as 12-15 thousand MRO experts in the next 15 years. Meanwhile, aviation institutions in Indonesia only produce 200 experts per year, while the country requires a thousand annually.

The domestic aviation industry continues to grow and experience significant growth, indicated by an increase in the amount of air traffic, both the flow of passengers and goods.

Domestic air passengers increased annually by an average of 15% over the last 10 years. The number of international air passengers rose to about eight percent, and Indonesia is the third-largest country in Asia in the purchase of aircraft after China and India.

Highlighting the importance of the aircraft MRO industry, President Joko Widodo said that Indonesia should be prudent and highly competitive to utilise the opportunity.

In future, this industry holds high potential following growth in the country’s tourism and economic sectors.

In addition, the aircraft MRO industry can lower the cost of the aviation industry, including the cost of importing aircraft components.

(Source: VNA)